Dorset Police officer sentenced for high-speed blue-light crash
PC Harry Chaplin has kept his driving licence though
Last updated 30th Aug 2023
A Dorset Police officer has been sentenced to eight penalty points on his licence, and been fined, for crashing into a family's car in Weymouth, on the way to the scene of another collision.
PC Harry Chaplin was travelling at up to 81 mph when the crash happened on Littlemoor Road in Weymouth in July 2022.
Winchester Crown Court has been shown dashcam footage of the victim's car being overtaken firstly by a police car with its blue lights flashing and siren on being driven by another officer, PC Derek Alexander.
The video then showed the Honda Civic, with its indicator light flashing, turning right and being hit by Chaplin's police vehicle, also with its blue lights and siren on, knocking it on to its side.
Nicholas Cotter, prosecuting, said the Honda was being driven by Patrick Mulqueen with his wife Claire and their two young children passengers in the car.
Mrs Mulqueen was knocked unconscious in the crash and suffered a brain bleed, while Mr Mulqueen suffered bruising and cuts and the two children also had bruising from their seat harnesses.
In a victim statement read to the court, Mrs Mulqueen said that the crash happened after they had recently moved to the area. She said:
"We were excited to start this new chapter together and spend the summer at the sea side.
"The actions of the police officer overshadowed what should have been a happy time for our family."
She explained that her brain injury had left her exhausted, suffering anxiety and 'not like herself'.
"I remember feeling guilty I couldn't give my children the summer they deserved as I was so easily tired and overwhelmed."
27 year old Chaplin, from Weymouth, was originally charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, but the prosecution accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of careless driving.
Sentencing Chaplin, Judge Angela Morris said:
"The speed you travelled was a serious error of judgment by you."
She fined the defendant ÂŁ307, ordered him to pay a ÂŁ123 surcharge and ÂŁ500 compensation to the family. She said:
"This will hopefully go some way to compensate them for their loss and also mark for your genuine desire to make restoration to them."
The judge said that she would not disqualify Chaplin from driving because he was 'driving towards a serious RTA and not simply exceeding the speed limit'.
She instead imposed eight penalty points on his driving licence.
Ailsa Williamson, defending, said that Chaplin, who was a 'highly regarded' officer, had offered to meet the victims to discuss how the accident happened as a form of restorative justice. She said:
"He is a young man devoted to public service who is deeply upset he has caused pain to the Mulqueen family by this accident.
"He was responding to an emergency road traffic accident and it's a case where he has made an error of judgment as to the speed he was travelling but doing so while fulfilling his policing duties to the best of his ability."
PC Derek Alexander was initially charged in connection with the accident but the charges were later dropped by the CPS.
Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: “We note the sentencing of the court. Police drivers undergo intensive driver training and regular refresher courses to ensure that they drive to the safest standards and in accordance with the law.
“There are exemptions allowing officers to travel in excess of the speed limit at times, but this must always be done so safely.
“Where this highest standard is not met, we will present evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service who will determine if any action should be taken.
“This matter will now be subject to misconduct proceedings and as such it would in appropriate to comment further.”